Saturday, May 14, 2011

Hannah MacGibbon leaves Chloé

The designers’ game of musical chairs continues: following Christophe Decarnin’s official departure from Balmain, fellow French fashion house Chloé has announced May 9 that it will part ways with its creative head Hannah MacGibbon.

MacGibbon’s last collection for Chloé — fall/winter 2011 — was not met with enthusiasm during Paris fashion week and had many onlookers speculating about whether her contract would be renewed.

After ten years of working for the label and three of being at its helm following now-Celine designer Phoebe Philo, MacGibbon is set to be replaced by former Pringle of Scotland designer Clare Waight Keller.

A statement by Chloé CEO Geoffroy de La Bourdonnaye reads: “We warmly welcome Clare to Chloé as we continue to define feminine elegance for the radiant, active and effortlessly graceful woman of today…Clare’s unique talent and skilled eye is enriched through her deep experience across global fashion players and her highly acclaimed rejuvenation of a major heritage house [Pringle of Scotland].”

A job-searching Hannah MacGibbon further adds to the current designer merry-go-round, which also saw well-known designer Patrick Robinson being sacked by the Gap last week.